New-York tribune., 1887-04-29
A p4TTENT IN FITS.

What an intolerable thing it would have
been thought. half year ago, that the traffic
| and commerce of the Nation should be waiting
on the motions of five men, appealing to them
much as merchants in media val days came
humbly before monarchs begging leave to con-
tinue their avocations, and preparing a1idavits
and mastering witnesses to teach the Com
mission the needs of business, and fairly bury
ing the body under kilograms and letters be-
seeching action without any further delay.
This is self government. however. free
people can learn only by experience, which
may come attended with much suffering.
The Commission has granted exemption from
the long and short haul clause, it appears, to
all the Pacific railroads save one but by some
strange blunder did not include the Union
Pacific in its exemption, that its order had
the effect of prohibiting the transportation Of
through freight over one of several rival
roads until its officials should perform the
pi oper obeisance before the new masters of the
Nations commerce No doubt the blunder was
unintentional and innocent. But what Is to
he said of legislation which puts it in the
power of five men, mostly inexperienced in rail
road affairs thus to cripple the business of
any corporation or section by an innocent mis-
take Or rather what should be said of lcgis-
lation which makes succession of such dis
astrous mistakes as inevitable as human i'm
perfection The other Pacific roads have
gladly reduced their through rates. being per
mitted temporarily by the Commission and
the Union Pacific will probably be permitted
also in time. But other petitions, for and
against the exemption of companies from the
short haul section, come upon the Commission
in such vast number as to raise the doubt
whether, in sheer sef-defence that body may
not be forced to suspend the operation of that
section for all railroads until it has time to
ascertain where, if anywhere, it can be safely
enforced
But what the Commission has already done
suflioes to elicit howl of rage from Mr..
Reagan. of Texas. His letter Of April %.
declaring that the Commission was being be
fooled into a virtual defeat Of that great and
most benefcent act. the Interstate law, and
implying that ii had no proper excuse for sus-
pending the operation of the law in any case
as yet. probably discloses the temper in which
many Of the fanatical corporation haers will
regard the course Of the Commission. IL 1T
refuses to suspend the act in the ten thousand
cases where suspension is necessary to com
merco and industry, the Commission will get
cursed. If it consents to suspend the act, it
will get cursed The poor Commission cannot
help itself there is the law with its two ir-
rcconcilable interpretations, and hapless Com
mission. if it chooses either, will wish thou
sand times it had chosen the other
Mr.. Reagan declares that the conduct of the
Commission, if continued, will result in far
more vigorous legislation by Congress. and par
ticularly in the abolition of the Commission,
leaving the railroads TO the iron law and the
courts. That would be Mr. Reagan's remedy.
He reminds one Of the country doctor who had
one infalble treatment for all diseases; if he
could first throw the patient into fits. then he
knew what to do. Ii may be that the patient
may not want any more of Mr.. Reagan's fits.
and may successfully resist in the Senate or
the House. But one would suppose that the
contOrtions of industry and tho disorders OF
trade now visible might suffice to satisfy even
the ambition of an Postmaster General Of
the late Confederacy.